Chapter Four
Author's Note: The Elleth Meowen, you were totally right. I need to stop using so many time skips. They're just so handy for scene changes. ;-; But henceforth, I pledge not to use any time skips- Goodbye, easy life. XD
'What should we do?' Amanda asked urgently, feeling slightly panicky. 'She could be anywhere!'
'Look at this logically.' Gandalf said, infuriatingly calm. 'She can't have gone far, for one. And secondly, there is only one place Sauron would go.'
Amanda was silent for a moment.
'You mean Mordor? Pippin said.
Gandalf put down his pipe. 'Yes, that's exactly what I mean.'
'So… what do we do?' Amanda said, rubbing her forehead.
'We have to intercept her.' Pippin said, a strange light in his eyes. 'Stop her before she gets to Mordor.'
Gandalf nodded, for once in agreement with the mischievous hobbit. 'We have to start at once- before she has time to acquire any sort of transportation.' He pulled out a map of Middle-Earth, pointing to the ink drawings. 'This is where we are now. This-' He traced the route with a long, knobbly finger. 'This is the fastest way to Mordor. But I don't think she'll go there right away.' Gandalf turned to Amanda. 'Does she have any sort of skill to survive in the wilderness?'
Amanda shook her head.
'That's what I thought. She has no idea how to find food or shelter out in the open. Sauron hasn't corrupted her enough to feed her information yet- he's only strong enough to make her feel like she has to go to Mordor. So, because of that, I think Sasha's first stop will be Rivendell. There she can get food, information… then hightail it out of there before the elves notice anything.'
'So we go to Rivendell too?' Amanda asked, expression determined.
'That's the plan.' Gandalf said, rolling up the map.
'Do we start now?' Pippin asked. 'As in, now, now?'
'Of course!' Amanda said. 'We have to save Sasha.'
'You don't happen to have an extra pipe, do you?' Pippin asked Gandalf. Catching a dirty look from Amanda, he added hurriedly, 'Not that it matters, I mean we've got to rescue Sasha, so- yeah.'
Gandalf flicked the reins, and the large grey horse pulling his trademark cart ambled back along the dirt road. Amanda and Pippin trotted alongside him.
'We're coming, Sasha.' Amanda breathed. 'And we'll save you. I promise.'
Author's Note: How's that for a dramatic chapter ending? This installment was supposed to be longer… but I thought I wouldn't finish the whole chapter in time. Yeah, I thought my deadline was the 15th, so I figured I had enough time, then I realized it was the 11th… but I still got it out on time! I'll just split this chapter into two parts. :D
Next ½ Chapter out by: 12/10/2015